Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-25
The GoId.Erick SwIndIe.
[Globe-Democratl

liiODe-DefnDffhLl
The frequency with which the "gold-
brick trick is played upon numbers of
human gulls right here in st. Louis in
this day OF fraud exposures has filed
United States Assayer T.. c. Jewett with
disgust for the victims rather than with
pity. A case Of this particular game of
deception comes to Mr.. Jeweits know
ledge every three months on the average,
and the victims caught are of all classes
Of moneyed people. The person for
whom the bait is set need not be of a
speculative gambling turn OfmiDd, and
IN some cases a person Of just the oppo-
site turn is chosen. II is only necessary
to arouse in the person to whom the boz
gus brick is offered for sale a sufficient
degree of cupidity to make him or her
believe that bargain is offered, and the
rest of the job is easily finished by the
shark who has the alleged bar OF gold
bullion to part with. The victim is met
and solected-say in Illinois, or any
where else outside the jurisdiction OF
the st. Louis couIts-and is shown the
brick by the boss svindler or an ope-
rator subbing under that profes-
sional. The brick is always bored by
the e.,lesman in daylight, or under
good artificial light, in the presence OF
the buyer, VINO goes of TO an expert
jeweller or assayer after the test with
some pure gold borinGs that have been
transferred TO his handkerchief by a
slcight-o hand performance. This Is
the common method of deception when
the brick IS tapped in the middle and
ends by n metal drill. The trick OF
Swapping a brass brick with bands OF
gold that cover the outer corners has
been played during the past year, but
it is not 50 common as the
sleight-o transfer Of the brass
auglur shayings taken from the big
brick into the hands of the shark,
and dissatisfaction of pure gold shavings
in the handkerchief of the infatuated
buyer. Various pretences and excuses
are made by the selling sharks as reasons
why they are willing 10 part with the
brick mt sacrifice. such as sickness in
their families, mortgages on their pro-
perty, a big real estate lawsuit coming
on, or the need OF money in business.
One of the stories that is readily accepted
by the buyer, blind to everything except
what seems a glorious opportunity 70
make a lit Ivy speculation, Is that the
seller is q retired miner who had the gold
smeited Just before leaving his mines in
the West.
HOW THE VICTIM sECBETEs HIMSELF.
A popularity in the bitten ones. which
prevents prosecutions and bars the de-
tectiye work of the authorities, is that
they do not want their names or the fact
that they were victimiZed known. Very
few OF tho "gold-brick trick victims of
the last five years have taken any steps
to recover their money even, and quite a
number did not tell their losses until the
rascals who fleeced them had crossed the
border line of Canada and were luxu-
rating in the good things OF that cold
country.
" knew man who was worked 10
the extent of 81, 500 in this city" said
United States Assayer Jewett yesterday,
"but he utterly refused 10 prosecute the
case. Rather than put the matter in the
hands Of the police he evaded arresting
officers who craved the glory Of catching
his fleecer on Governors requisition,
and the matter went no further Levi
Storthz was not so silly. lie was
worked about six months ago, but
he came right to the front and
assisted to catch the men who
had robbed him by the trick, and that
case was regularly prosecuted. Victims
have even been so silly as TO come TO me
and insist that / should go and see the
men who heeced them. that | might see
that they were honest These were
cases in which the brick was of brass.
in the Storthz case the trick was per-
formed in different way. Storthz was
allowed to carry a genuine gold brick to
a jeweller, but the bricks were shuflled
atterward and brass one put in Its
place. The general practice is to ex-
hibit bogus brick"
One of the cases mentioned by Mr..
Jewett was that of attempting to raise
money from a clergyman who is
prominent in ono o; the fashiona-
bic churches OF st. Louis. The cler-
gyman was approached on the chan-
table side of his big heart by an APP
peal for loan for n sick and needy man,
the brick being offered as security for
the money. Behring'S, claimed to be
from the brick, were sent the minister
from Illinois. These were brought to
Mr.. Jewett, who pronounced them to be
genuine gold, and at the same time
warned the preacher OF the trick
that might be played upon him
by these raseals, who never ven
tIne on the Missouri side OF the
river. The sick man was not helped by
the st. Louis divine, and he might have
died for all the minister cared after that.
The minister was ahead, however, IN the
value of gold shavings 1t is general
for the trickster to make the bitter believe
that he is getting a brick for about
three fifths OF its value. For instance,
he would offer brick for 5000 and
cla'm that it was worth at least 80, OW.
1t was the president OF Leadville
bank who gave as an excuse for the col
lapse OF the institution OF which no had